Mercedes then set its eye on the 24 Hours of Le Mans, modifying the CLK GTR with sleeker bodywork to better suit the track’s long straights. Thus, the Mercedes-Benz CLK LM was born.

July 1, 1998: the most hilarious bumper of all time is born. Take in the homologation special Mercedes CLK-LM, with the most canny, tacked-on bumper to ever grace a road car.

The CLK GTR was a dominant force during its competition days, claiming the 1997 FIA GT teams and drivers championships — just as its successor, the similar-looking CLK LM, did in 1998.

Unlike the V12-engined GTR, the LM was fitted with a naturally aspirated version of its 5.0-litre M119 V8 in the name of reliability. And whereas 28 GTRs were produced for the road (20 coupes, six ...

For the ’98 season, the CLK GTR, with some help from the CLK LM, won all of the races in the FIA GT Championship season. The cars were so good at racing that they essentially killed the GT1 class.

Mercedes also built a CLK LM version for the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans with a 6.0-liter V-8 that was thought to be more durable, but both cars entered suffered engine failures.

Porsche built the 911 GT1, McLaren had its BMW-engined F1, and Mercedes’ response was the CLK GTR. Raced primarily in 1997, the CLK GTR led to the development of the CLK LM endurance racer.

The Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR is one of those cars. Built in the late '90s to meet racing regulations, this machine was never just about turning heads — it was about winning races.

A very different supercar, from a very different eraAs for the race car, Mercedes-Benz created the CLK LM (above) for Le Mans endurance racing after conquering the 1997 FIA GT1 class. To do this ...

We all know the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR, right? The V12-engined homologation special that allowed Mercedes to go racing in GT1 in the 1990s, which it dominated from the get-go. Well, this isn’t it.

The Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR is one of those cars. Built in the late ’90s to meet racing regulations, this machine was never just about turning heads — it was about winning races.